Talk:Chitral River

Title

The WP:COMMONNAME title is "Kunar River", clearly per Google Ngram.

Also, Google Books search gets about 4,380 results for "Kunar River", but only about 2,480 results for "Chitral River". So "Kunar River" is clearly more common in reliable sources. Khestwol (talk) 19:09, 24 May 2015 (UTC)

My bad, I didn't realise while moving the page that you had actually left the rationale for the page move. Your arguments made sense, and I wouldn't mind if you move the page back. Sutyarashi (talk) 20:58, 16 September 2024 (UTC)

It does seem that Kunar had previously more usage because of the Afghanistan conflict and US presence in Afghanistan, as it is the name with which the river is known in Afghanistan. It is worth noting that in the recent years Chitral has had comparatively more usage than Kunar in the academic discourse.[1]. Sutyarashi (talk) 21:03, 16 September 2024 (UTC)

Infact, modern hydrology-related RS sources (from past decade or so) exclusively use Chitral as the proper hydronym,[2][3][4][5] since it originates from Chitral, not Kunar. Hard to tell how much merit WP:COMMONNAME holds if the outdated and military-related sources are removed from the equation. Sutyarashi (talk) 21:19, 16 September 2024 (UTC)

References

Request to Restore Original Name: Kunar River

Chitral River → Kunar River – Hey, I’m requesting to change the name back to Kunar River because that was the original name before it got changed. Tons of historical and geographical sources—including even Pakistani sites—recognize Kunar River as the correct name. The recent rename doesn’t match up with official records or maps. I’ve got sources that prove the name Kunar, and I’ve listed them below. Changing it back keeps things historically accurate and consistent with what’s been used by local communities and international maps. Plus, Kunar River has been a key part of the region’s identity for centuries, with deep cultural significance for the people living along its banks. Preserving its name respects this heritage and maintains continuity."

Sources:

TOLOnews - Afghan source

Pajhwok - Afghan source

DawnNews - Pakistani source

DawnNews (2x) - Pakistani source

The Express Tribune - Pakistani source

Ariana News - Afghan source

Khaama Press - Afghan source

Samaa TV - Pakistani source

Amu Television - Afghan source

Aaj News - Pakistani source

Dainik Jagran News - Indian source

CNBC TV18 News - Indian source

Britannica - British source

The Diplomat - American source

Research Papers:

[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11] Af420 (talk) 17:53, 27 May 2025 (UTC) — Relisting. Jeffrey34555 (talk) 20:41, 3 June 2025 (UTC) — Relisting. Reading Beans, Duke of Rivia 20:39, 11 June 2025 (UTC)

Oppose: The sources don't recognise Kunar as the 'correct name' but as one of the two alternative names, e.g see Britannica and The Diplomat. Modern environmental and Hydrology-related RS use either 'Chitral" for the entire river, or limit 'Kunar' for the section falling in Afghanistan (e.g see [12][13][14][15]). Vast majority of the scholarly sources, especially the recent ones, also consider Chitral River/Chitral River Basin as the proper hydronym for the river, e.g see:

It's worth noting that the river itself originates from Chitral, and gets called Kunar only after entering Afghanistan. Sutyarashi (talk) 10:24, 5 June 2025 (UTC)

I appreciate the discussion and the opposing viewpoint, but I respectfully disagree with the rationale for keeping "Chitral River" as the article title. Here's why:

1. Greater Scholarly Consensus on "Kunar River"
While some hydrology-related sources use "Chitral River," a broader academic consensus across multiple disciplines—including geography, environmental studies, and hydropolitics—recognizes "Kunar River" as the primary and historically accurate name. The following sources explicitly support "Kunar River" across both Afghanistan and Pakistan:

Design and Performance Analysis of Francis Turbine on Kunar River

Hydropolitics in Afghanistan and Pakistan: Kunar River

Hydrology Study: River Management Including Kunar

Engineering and Hydrological Assessment of Kunar River

Sedimentation Study of Kunar River: A Case Study

Geographical Study on Kunar River

Academic Research on Kunar River Management

Hydropower Study on Kunar River

These sources do not limit "Kunar River" to Afghanistan but recognize its name across both regions, demonstrating broader scholarly acceptance.

2. Widespread Recognition in Pakistani and International Media
In addition to academic sources, Pakistani media outlets overwhelmingly refer to the river as "Kunar River," further demonstrating that "Chitral River" is not a commonly used name. Major news platforms, including DawnNews, The Express Tribune, Samaa TV, and Aaj News, consistently use "Kunar River" in reports related to hydrology, infrastructure, and transboundary water issues.

Moreover, international media sources such as BBC and The New York Times also use "Kunar River," showing that the name is widely accepted beyond Pakistan-specific hydrological sources. This broad recognition further supports using "Kunar River" as the Wikipedia article’s title.

3. Historical and Cultural Significance
The river has historically and internationally been recognized as "Kunar River" in literature, government documents, and academic texts. Maps, references, and official studies across various periods consistently uphold this naming convention. Naming the river based solely on select hydrological sources ignores its longstanding identity and cultural relevance. Wikipedia should reflect well-established geographic and historical naming traditions rather than niche technical classifications.

4. Inconsistencies in the Opposition’s Argument
The opposing editor states that Britannica and The Diplomat treat "Kunar River" as merely an alternative name, but these sources do not reject the name's validity nor establish "Chitral River" as the definitive title. Furthermore, their listed sources predominantly rely on Pakistan-specific hydrological research, while the academic consensus in broader international studies—including transboundary water politics—supports "Kunar River" across its full course.

5. Wikipedia’s Naming Conventions
Wikipedia policy favors the most widely recognized and commonly used name globally—not just a technical classification from select sources. Since numerous research papers, maps, governmental documents, Pakistani media outlets, and international news organizations acknowledge "Kunar River," it aligns better with Wikipedia’s standards for geographic article naming consistency.

Conclusion
Based on historical, geographical, media, and academic evidence, the correct and widely accepted name for this river is "Kunar River," not "Chitral River." Renaming it back ensures Wikipedia maintains historical accuracy, cultural continuity, and consistency with internationally accepted terminology. Af420 (talk) 17:19, 7 June 2025 (UTC)

References